Portable acetylene generator



Oct. 13, 1953 l. N. LANGERMAN PORTABLE ACETYLENE GENERATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 21, 1950 &

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M N Z Oct. 13, 1953 1. N. LANGERMAN PORTABLE ACETYLENE GENERATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 21. 1950 mmvrm 1. New/0n Longer/nan ATTORNEYJ' Patented Oct. 13, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE AOETYLENE GENERATOR L Newton Lanzerman, Portland, 'Oreg.

Application Maren 21, 1950-, serial Noi 150,860

9 Claims, 1

This invention relates to imprcvernents in a portable acetylene generator of the type having a water tank and a carbide feeding mechanism for producing the gas as it is used.

General objects of the invention are to provide a portable acetylene generator having novel safety features which ermit the device to be tipped, upset, rolled, or even upended while charged and in 'use without danger or explosion, to provide a generator which may easily and quickly be recharged, and to provide novel means for keeping the gas outlet tribe in the generating chamber free and clear of any encrustations of carbide. Further objects are to provide a novel automatic carbide feed mechanism equipped with positive locking means to prevent the feeding of carbide into the water chamber when the generator is not in use, to provide an improved hydraulic flashback arresting valve, and to provide a oompact and rugged form of generator which is inexpensive to manufacture and reliable in operation.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent and the invention will be better understood with reference to a preferred embodiment of the apparatus described in the following specification and illustrated the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are merely for the purpose of illustrating the principles of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention, as various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts and certain features may be used without others.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation view with parts broken away illustrating- -a preferred embodiment of the invention; V

Figure 2 is a sectional view showing the feed mechanism locked in non-feeding position;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a plan View taken on the line 4- 4 of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a view showing the generator lying safely on its side;

Figure 6 is a view showing the generator safely inverted;

Figures '7 and 7m are perspective views illustr-ating parts of the feed head which are taken apart for recharging; and

Figure 8 is a side elevation view of a modified form of baffle plug.

The principal parts of the presentgeneretor comprise a gas' tlght tank. ll, preferably or welded steel construction, and a carbide feed mechanism, or feed head, associated with a conical, funnel shaped hopper body 9. The tank T0 forms the gas generating chamber and is equipped with a drain opening II and a filler opening l2, both normally closed by suitable screw plugs, as shown. The opening I2 is positioned below the mid height of the tank so that when the tank is standing upright, as shown in Figure 1, it can be filled with water only to a level 13 which is considerably less than half full. The top of the tank carries a depending tube l5 having a lower end It approximately in the centercr the tank and at a distance above the water level 13. The tube I5 performs the dual function of introducing carbide material into the tank and withdrawing acetylene gas from the tank, and its open end It is disposed in such position that the water cannot enter in any position of the tank to find access into the carbide hopper or gas delivery line. This tube is preferably integrally mounted in a top opening I! of the tank, as by welding.

The lower part of the hopper body 9 has an annular flange 20 for mounting on top of the tank; The under side of this flange is grooved at 2| to receive a soft annular gasket 22 to seat and seal on a circular bead or rib 23 formed in the top of the tank concentric with the opening ll. Detachably mounted on the lower end of the body 9 is an orifice member 24 carrying a carbide feed tube 25. When the parts are assembled in operative relation, as shown, the feed tube 25 is disposed concentrically within the tube l5 and has a lower end 28 spaced some distance above the end IE or the tube 15. Attached to the lower end of feed tube 2; is a tapered conical spring scraper, or" fitting, 21 having one or two convolutions at its lower end of sufficient diameter to en a e the inside of tube IS. The scraper is made of some metal such as brass which will not spark when scraped against another metallic surface. V i

The" orifice member 24 ms into an opening 28 in the bottom of hopper body 9 of 's'uflicient size for convenient introdueti'on of the granular carbidematerial when the member 24 is removed. The member has a e ircular feed opening or orifice 30 for the discharge of carbide into the water 13. A vertical feed control rod 3| extends through the opening 30 and has a reduced portion 32 of suitable dimensions to permit; slow feeding of the carbide particles through the opening when the rodis raised to feed; position. Above and below the reduced portion 32 theremainder of the rod 3| has a diameter only slightly less than the diameter of opening 36 so that the member 24 and tube 25 may be drawn over the rod. When there is no pressure in the tank the reduced portion 32 drops below the opening 36, as shown in Figure 1, and when the pressure becomes excessive the reduced portion is lifted above the opening to the approximate position shown in Figure 2. In either extreme position the rod stops the flow of carbide but does not seal the opening against the communication of the gas pressure in the tank with the hopper space.

The upper end of feed control rod 3| is grooved at 34 for support by a slotted bracket 35 on the under side of a pressure responsive diaphragm 36. A cotter key 33 retains the rod loosely in place. The peripheral portion of diaphragm 36 is clamped between a flange 31 on the large top end of hopper body 9 and a mating flange 38 on a diaphragm cover 46. The diaphragm 36 is biased downwardly by a spring 4| which seats in an internal nut 42 having screw threaded engagement in an upstanding neck 43 on the member 46. The nut 42 has a square hole in its center to receive a square stud 44 rigidly aiiixed to a rotative adjustment wheel 45. When the wheel 45 is rotated in one direction or the other, the nut 42 is thereby turned by means of the square stud 44 to tighten or loosen the spring 4|. hand wheel 45 is held against the top edge of the neck 43 by a bracket member 46 secured to the member 46 by a screw 41. Attached to the center of the diaphragm 36 is a spring seat 48 to receive the lower end of spring 4|. The bracket 35 and spring seat 48 are secured to opposite sides of the diaphragm by a common central bolt 49.

A forked lever 56 is pivotally connected at one end to upstanding ears on opposite sides of the spring seat 48 by means of short pins The other end of lever '56 is pivotally connected at 52 to a lug on the diaphragm cover 46. Intermediate its ends, the lever 56 carries a pin 53 engaged by a vertical link 54. A crank 55 equipped with a handle 56 extends through the link 54 and is journaled in complementary grooves 51 in the mating surfaces of diaphragm cover 46 and bracket 46. When the crank 55 is turned down to its Figure 1 position, the diaphragm 36 is released to respond to the balance of forces existing between the gas pressure on its under side and spring 4| and atmospheric pressure on its upper side to raise and lower the feed control rod 3| to maintain a constant predetermined gas pressure in the tank l6.

When the handle 56 is rotated through approximately 90 degrees to raise it to the crank position shown in Figures 2 and 3, the crank 55 draws the diaphragm upwardly by reason of the pivotal connections at 5| between the lever 56 and the spring seat 48. The diaphragm is thereby flexed to assume the same position which would result from excessive gas pressure to raise the feed control rod 3| and prevent any carbide in the hopper body 9 from dropping into the .tank [6. Suitable stop means (not shown) ongages the crank 55 to hold it in slightly overcenter position when the handle 56 is raised, so that the parts will remain in the non-feed positions shown in Figures 2 and 3 without being held. If the handle 56 is turned down to release the diaphragm 36 when the gas pressure is normal or above normal, the link 54 will become slack, but --the gas pressure on the under The ' tube 25.

.a plug 14.

side of the diaphragm will then hold the diaphragm in approximately its Figure 2 position to prevent any further feeding of carbide into the tank 6. If the gas pressure is below normal when the handle 56 is released, the diaphragm 36 will then, of course, drop down to some feed position intermediate between that shown in Figure 2 and that shown in Figure 1, depending upon the pressure.

Gas generated in the tank I6 is withdrawn through a delivery tube 66 having an upper end 6| connected into one side of the vertical tube 5 at approximately mid height of the inner The delivery tube 66 has a vertical lower end '62 extending down approximately to the mid point of a chamber 63'. From this chamber the gas discharges through an elbow pipe 64- which extends through a lower portion of the wall of tank I6 and is sealed in said wall in a gas-tight joint.

On the outside of tank l6, the pipe '64 connects .With a check valve fitting 65 having a drain plug 66 and an internal seat 61 for a rubber ball check 16. Mounted on the fitting 65 is a vertical tube H which forms a flashback arresting chamber. Near its lower end, the tube .H is equipped with an external elbow fitting 12 providing a filler opening for introducing water above the check valve 16 to the level indicated at 13. This filler opening is normally closed by The water space between the seat 61 and the water level 13 is largely filled by a cylindrical metal bafliing plug 68 having a central opening and a ribbed bottom cavity to retain the rubber ball 16 close to its seat. The ball can rise off its seat suificiently to allow an ample flow of gas around the ball and through plug 68.

The upper end of tube 1| is equipped with a flange T5 for mounting an outlet fitting 16 having a vertical tube 11 extending to considerable depth in the tube 1|. All gas leaving the chamber 1| must pass through the tube 11 to enter the fitting 16 and this tube may contain steel wool or other filter material to intercept any water splashed up by sudden rushes of gas.

Figure 8 illustrates another form of bafiiing plug 8|. This plug has a solid center and is equipped on its outer surface with a series of interrupted spiral flanges 82, defining spiral water filled passages between the plug and tube 1|. These flanges impart a circular movement to the rising gas and water, so that any water lifted upwardly by the gas will tend to follow the walls of tube 1| and not enter the tube 11.

A gauge 18 is mounted on the fitting 16 to indicate the gas pressure in the tank. Hose connection 19 is equipped with a valve 86 to shut ofi the flow of gas. The fitting 16 also carries a pressure release valve 65, generally known as a pop-off valve. This valve is normally closed, as indicated by the full line position of handle 86 in Figure 4, and may be opened'manually to release the pressure in tank l6 to atmosphere by turning the handle 86 to its broken line position.

The carbide feed mechanism, or feed head, carried by and embodied in the funnel shaped hopper body 9 is secured on the tank for convenient removal by means of a swingable hold down yoke 96 having one end pivotally mounted on the tank by means of bolt 9|. The member 96 has an arcuate rim 92 to engage over and bear against the flange 26 of the hopper body and its other end is notched at 93 to engage an, upstanding stud 94 onthe top of the tank. This notched end or the yoke member 99 is normally held down by a wing nut 95, the stud 94 being positioned diametrically across the opening ll from the bolt 9i as shown in Fi ure 4. The rim 92 extends somewhat more than 180 degrees around this opening to hold the flange '29 securely in position and compress the gasket 22 sufficiently to form a gas-tight seal all around the opening. The arrangement is such that the handle 86 prevents access to loosen the wing nut 95 as long as the pressure release valve 85 is closed. The carbide feed mechanism cannot then be removed from the tank I9. A guard 81 is welded to the upper end of tube 11 and to the tank I9 to make the tube rigid.

In order to remove the carbide feed mechanism for recharging or other purposes, the handle 86 must first be swung to its broken line position in Figure 4 to open valve 95 and release the pressure from the tank to atmosphere. Then, the wing nut 95 may be loosened and the yoke 99 swung to one side about its pivot 9I to release the hold down pressure on the flange 29 and gasket 22. The funnel shaped hopper body 9 containing the whole carbide feed mechanism and tube 25 may then be lifted from the tank II], the spring 21 scraping the interior surface of tube I as the tube 25 is withdrawn, to remove any carbide encrustation that may have formed.

The orifice member 24 is equipped with a pair of diametrically opposite shoulders 91- having sloping surfaces to engage behind a pair of armate 1ugs 98 in the flange of the hopper, which parts are shown in Figures 7 and 7a. These cooperating lugs and shoulders form a bayonet joint type connection whereby the member 24 is easily removed from the hopper by a quarter turn rotation to withdraw the shoulders 91 through the spaces between the lugs 98. The sloping surfaces on the lugs 91 act as segmental, or interrupted, screw threads to make a tight joint between the conical surfaces 99 and I 00 when the parts are connected together. It will be noted, however, that the gasket 22 seals the hopper member 9 directly to the top of the tank, so that a gas-tight joint is not required between the members 9 and In charging the feed head, it is held in inverted position, and the orifice member 24 and tube 25 are removed as shown. The opening 28 is considerably larger than the feed control rod 3 I, and the loose connection of the latter with its supporting bracket on the diaphragm allows it to fall to one side of the opening as shown in Figure 7. The conical surface I90 around the opening 28 forms a small funnel for pouring granular carbide material into the inverted hopper. The use of tools is not required for the recharging operation, and the whole procedure may be completed without a lengthy interruption in the delivery of gas.

Operation After the hopper body 9 has been recharged with granular carbide the orifice member is replaced on the hopper, causing the feed rod 3| to assume its Figure 1 position in the orifice 39 to prevent feeding. The entire feed head is then assembled on the tank and the hold down yoke 90 secured by wing nut 95 to make a gas-tight connection at the joint 22, 23. When the tube 25 is inserted in the tube I5, the spring 21 again scrapes the inside surface of the latter tube without requiring any particular attention to do so.

The pressure reliel valve may then be closed by swinging the handle. 86 from it. broken line to its full line position in Figure 4 to cover the wing nut 95.

When it is desired to start the generation of acetylene gas, the handle 56 is raised momentarily to lift the diaphragm and feed rod and allow a smallamount or carbide to flow through the opening 39: and fall into the. water in the tank. After a small gas pressure is produced the feed will continue until the working pressure is established. While the generator is in use, the handle 56 is turned down to slacken the link 54 and allow the gas pressure in the tank to support the diaphragm in opposition to the downward force of spring 4i. As gas is withdrawn through the hose connection I9, the pressure acting on the under side of diaphragm 36 is reduced, allowing the diaphragm to lower the feed rod 3| and feed a small quantity of carbide through the opening 30 and tube 25 in sufficient amount to re-establish the desired tank pressure. As long as the link 54 is slack between the pin 53 and crank 55, the diaphragm 36 responds to pressure variations in the tank In to maintain a quantity of generated gas above the surface I3 of the water under substantially constant pressure for any desired pur pose. When the diaphragm is held in its Figure 2 position by handle 56, the feeding action is interrupted independently of tank pressure.

The flow of gas through delivery tube 6|] and bottom pipe 64 maintains the water in the flashback arresting chamber II normally above the ball check valve It. If a flashback should occur through the hose connection 19 and tube 11, the progress of the flame will be stopped at the water surface 13.

If the ball check should leak or become unseated, the water at I3 will occupy the fitting 65 and pipe 64, and may run into chamber 63, but it will be apparent that as soon as a small quantity of gas is withdrawn through the hose connection 19, any water in these parts will immediately be pushed up past the ball and into the chamber I I, and the gas thereafter will bubble upward around the ball 10 and through the water in the central opening of bafiie plug 68 to reach the outlet tube H. l

If the tank is tipped on its side or inverted, the flashback arresting water will be retained, because the lower end of tube 11 extends to a sufficient depth in the chamber II to accommodate the entire volume of water in the upper end of this chamber with the end of the tube I1 always being disposed above the water level. The parts are proportioned so that the same condition exists in the chamber 63 with respect to the tube 62. If all the water at 13 should enter the chamber 63, it still cannot escape through the reentrant tube 62, even when the tank is laid on its side or inverted. The chambers 63 and 1| constitute traps to prevent loss of the flashback arresting water. The total volume of this water is made small by 269501). of the space occupied by the baflle plugs 8 or 8 I.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the safety features of the generator with respect to both the flashback arrester water at 13 and the main gas generating water in the tank at 13. The filler opening I2 is positioned at such level that when the tank is standing upright it cannot be fllled with a sumcient volume of water to cause the open end I6 of the tube I5 to become submerged in any position of the tank. The tank water at I3 is thereby prevented from wetting the supply of carbide in the hopper 9, and it is also prevented from entering the gas delivery tube 60, if the tank should be upset. Similarly, the flashback preventing water at 13 cannot escape through the hose connection 19, and it cannot escape into the main tank by way of the delivery tube 60. Hence, if the generator is accidentally upset, or even upended, there is no danger of explosion and the steady flow of gas delivery is not interrupted. When the generator is returned to its upright position, the two bodies of water at [3 and 73 will be restored to their normal positions illustrated in Figure 1.

The difficulti s usually encountered by carbide encrustations on or around the carbide feed tube have been obviated in the present construction by the use of the scraper 2?. The humid atmosphere and damp surfaces within the tank tend to cause some of the falling carbide to adhere and start the formation of such encrustations at the lower end of tube IE, but it Will be observed that the end 2% of the carbide feed tube is spaced some distance above the end It of the tube 35, which would naturally be moist with condensation. Only a limited amount of encrustation is produced by each charge of can bide, and by insuring that the new deposit will be loosened and removed automatically at each recharging operation, the building up of these deposits to an objectionable degree is effectively prevented without any particular attention on the part of the operator, and the free feeding of carbide and free delivery of gas is assured at all times.

The one piece cast hopper body 9 is inexpensive and rugged, and the simple manner in which the whole feed head may be removed from the tank, as well as the facile separation of the orifice member 24 from the feed head for recharging, make the generator especially con venient for a wide variety of uses where acetylene gas has not heretofore been available. The selfcleaning and safety features allow the generator to be used by workmen with less special training than would be required for conventional generating equipment.

Having now described my invention and in what manner the same may be used, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An acetylene generator comprising a tank adapted to contain a quantity of water for the generation of acetylene gas, a vertical gas outlet tube extending from the top of said tank approximately to the center of the tank, pressure responsive carbide feeding mechanism detachably mounted on top of said tank, a carbide feed tube on said mechanism extending Within said first tube, and a scraper mounted on the end of said feed tube to engage and scrape the interior of the gas outlet tube when said feed mechanism is applied to and removed from the tank.

2. An acetylene generator comprising a water tank having a top opening, a vertical gas outlet tube mounted in said top opening and tank, means for limiting the fllling of the tank to a level less than half full, a vertical gas outlet tube in said tank extending down from the top of the tank and having an open lower end at approximately the center of the tank, a pressure responsive carbide feeding mechanism mounted on top of the tank, a feed tube for said mechanism extending within said gas outlet tube, a gas delivery tube connected with said outlet tube above the lower end of said feed tube, a flashback arresting check valve including a water chamber mounted on the outside of said tank, a chamber inside of said tank connecting said check valve and water chamber with said gas delivery tube, and trap means in both of said chambers to prevent escape of flashback arresting water in any position of the generator.

4. An acetylene generator comprising a water tank having a top opening, a vertical gas outlet tube mounted in said top opening and having an open lower end at a point near the center of the tank, an automatic carbide feeding mechanism mounted on top of the tank, a carbide feed tube connected with said mechanism and extending within said vertical tube, a flashback arresting check valve and water chamber mounted on the outside of said tank, a gas outlet tube extending into said chamber to form a water trap, a chamber within said tank connected with said check valve and water chamber, and a gas delivery pipe having one end connected with said vertical tube and the other end extending into the center of said last chamber to form a water trap.

5. An acetylene generator comprising a water tank, a carbide hopper having a mounting flange supported by the top of said tank, a clamping member having a semi-circular rim bearing on said flange around half its periphery to secure said hopper to the tank, releasable means engaging said clamping member to hold the parts in assembled relation, a valve for releasing pressure from the tank, and a handle on said valve covering said releasable means in the closed position of the valve to prevent the release of said means and insure the opening of said valve before said hopper can be removed from the tank.

6. An acetylene generator comprising a Water tank, a carbide hopper having a mounting flange engaging said water tank, a clamping yoke having a semicircular rim bearing on said flange for securing said hopper to the tank, releasable means on the tank engaging said yoke to hold the parts in assembled relation under pressure, a Water chamber flashback arrester mounted on said tank, a pressure release valve for said tank mounted on said arrester, and a handle on said valve covering said releasable means in the closed position of the valve to insure opening of the valve and release of pressure from the tank before said hopper can be removed. 7

"l. A portable acetylene generator comprising a Water tank having a top opening and a water filler opening below the center of the tank, a depending gas outlet tube mounted in said opening and having an open lower end at the center of the tank, a detachable carbide hopper mounted on top of the tank and having a carbide feed tube extending within said outlet tube, a pressure responsive diaphragm across the top of said hopper to control the feed of carbide, a gas delivery tube connected with said outlet tube, a water chamber flashback arrester connected with said delivery tube and having an external gas line connection, and water traps in the input and output connections of said arrester to prevent the loss of water from said arrester in any position of said tank, whereby the generator may be tipped over or inverted without introducing water into the carbide hopper or external gas line connection.

8. A portable acetylene generator comprising a tank, a vertical gas outlet tube mounted in the top of said tank and extending into the tank, a gas pressure responsive carbide feed head, means for detachably securing said feed head on the tank to feed through said gas outlet tube, and a scraper element for the interior of said tube operable by the application and removal of said feed head.

9. A portable acetylene generator comprising a vertical cylindrical tank having a water filler opening below mid height to insure a filling level less than half full, said tank having a top openmg, a vertical gas outlet tube extending downwardly within the tank from said top opening and having an open lower end approximately at the center of the tank and above the water level in all positions of the tank, pressure responsive carbide feeding mechanism detachably mounted on top of the tank above said top opening, and a carbide feed tube on said mechanism extending downwardly within said gas outlet 10 tube.

I. NEWTON LANG-ERMAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 15 Number Name Date 2,255,536 Smith Sept. 9, 1941 2,264,281 De Motte Dec. 2, 1941 2,344,564 Schepman Mar. 21, 1944 2,367,240 Smith Jan. 16, 1945 

9. A PORTABLE ACETYLENE GENERATOR COMPRISING A VERTICAL CYLINDRICAL TANK HAVING A WATER FILLER OPENING BELOW MID HEIGHT TO INSURE A FILLING LEVEL LESS THAN HALF FULL, SAID TANK HAVING A TOP OPENING, A VERTICAL GAS OUTLET TUBE EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY WITHIN THE TANK FROM SAID TOP OPENING AND HVING AN OPEN LOWER END APPROXIMATELY AT THE CENTER OF THE TANK AND ABOVE THE WATER 